Post by D on May 16, 2004 12:39:26 GMT -5
'Raymond' renewed 05/16/2004
Sat May 15, 8:00 PM ET
Josef Adalian, Michael Schneider, STAFF
"Everybody Loves Raymond" will return for one final victory lap next season.
After weeks of legal wrangling over every last detail, CBS today will announce what's been assumed for weeks: A deal has been reached to bring back the Ray Romano (news) laffer for a ninth -- and final -- season. Following in the footsteps of the "Friends" swan song season, 16 episodes of "Raymond" will be produced next year, down from the usual 24.
It's also expected a few "Raymond" clip shows will be produced next season as well.
Some broad points of the deal had been reached weeks ago, but an announcement had been delayed as parties on all sides nailed down every point of the deal.
"Ray and I met with the writers a few months ago to see if we could come up with any more stories -- and we were able to," said "Raymond" creator and exec producer Phil Rosenthal. "Our decision had nothing to do with money for Ray or me. Emotionally, we never want the show to end, but everything must. We look forward to these remaining episodes as a few encores, and a few more meals with our staff. Can I see my children now?"
Added Romano, "I look forward to being a hapless, sexless husband once again in year nine."
In terms of last-minute "it's over/it's not over" drama, "Raymond" has started to rival NBC's recently departed "Friends."
Like that comedy, which kept network execs on their toes with yearly renewal cliffhangers, "Raymond's" Romano and Rosenthal have kept CBS brass guessing over the past two years. As early as two seasons ago, Rosenthal and Romano hinted at their desire to end the show.
"When it's over, it's over," Rosenthal told Daily Variety in July 2002. "You don't want to get repetitive, and I've never seen a show get better after seven seasons."
It took a protracted negotiation last spring to persuade the duo to come back for an eighth season, but in an 11th-hour deal -- also on the eve of upfronts -- Romano signed on for one more year last May. The thesp agreed to a paycheck worth between $1.8 million and $2 million an episode, making him the highest-paid actor in TV comedy.
As part of the renewal, CBS also agreed to pay HIP and Worldwide Pants between $5 million and $6 million a seg for one more year of the show.
Those huge paydays persuaded Rosenthal and Romano to keep the lights on through the 2003-2004 TV season -- but the duo also made it clear that OK, this would be the final season.
Sat May 15, 8:00 PM ET
Josef Adalian, Michael Schneider, STAFF
"Everybody Loves Raymond" will return for one final victory lap next season.
After weeks of legal wrangling over every last detail, CBS today will announce what's been assumed for weeks: A deal has been reached to bring back the Ray Romano (news) laffer for a ninth -- and final -- season. Following in the footsteps of the "Friends" swan song season, 16 episodes of "Raymond" will be produced next year, down from the usual 24.
It's also expected a few "Raymond" clip shows will be produced next season as well.
Some broad points of the deal had been reached weeks ago, but an announcement had been delayed as parties on all sides nailed down every point of the deal.
"Ray and I met with the writers a few months ago to see if we could come up with any more stories -- and we were able to," said "Raymond" creator and exec producer Phil Rosenthal. "Our decision had nothing to do with money for Ray or me. Emotionally, we never want the show to end, but everything must. We look forward to these remaining episodes as a few encores, and a few more meals with our staff. Can I see my children now?"
Added Romano, "I look forward to being a hapless, sexless husband once again in year nine."
In terms of last-minute "it's over/it's not over" drama, "Raymond" has started to rival NBC's recently departed "Friends."
Like that comedy, which kept network execs on their toes with yearly renewal cliffhangers, "Raymond's" Romano and Rosenthal have kept CBS brass guessing over the past two years. As early as two seasons ago, Rosenthal and Romano hinted at their desire to end the show.
"When it's over, it's over," Rosenthal told Daily Variety in July 2002. "You don't want to get repetitive, and I've never seen a show get better after seven seasons."
It took a protracted negotiation last spring to persuade the duo to come back for an eighth season, but in an 11th-hour deal -- also on the eve of upfronts -- Romano signed on for one more year last May. The thesp agreed to a paycheck worth between $1.8 million and $2 million an episode, making him the highest-paid actor in TV comedy.
As part of the renewal, CBS also agreed to pay HIP and Worldwide Pants between $5 million and $6 million a seg for one more year of the show.
Those huge paydays persuaded Rosenthal and Romano to keep the lights on through the 2003-2004 TV season -- but the duo also made it clear that OK, this would be the final season.
